Thank you cancer

No longer was I stuck in a chemo chair or tethered to my bed with fatigue. Cancer pushed me over the edge. It pushed me to be something bigger than me. It pissed me off, scared the shit out of me and resurrected a living, vibrant, fearless soul.

I went whitewater rafting down the Nile River, did a safari in the Masaai Mara, climbed Kilimanjaro, sat on the pyramids in Egypt. I scoffed at the idea of “normal” and was propelled into the land of Oz.

I chased dreams recklessly.

I danced through fields with children in Kenya. I lived with twenty five kids who were grateful to have food and a roof and someone to tuck them in at night. I held them in my arms and opened my heart to the possibility of a love beyond my wildest imagination. I was not disappointed.

In a land far, far away I learned about life. About simplicity. About things that matter, like making sure that children feel secure and loved and have the opportunity to chase their own dreams. Big dreams. All children. Everywhere.

Cancer forced me to wake up. I’m not so sure I like what I see everyday but that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that I am aware. Aware of life beyond myself.